Veterans Treatment Courts

in Washington

Veterans Treatment Court ("VTC") is a broad term encompassing a variety of court models that recognize the value to veterans and their communities of tailoring the court experience for veterans. There is tremendous variation in how courts define which veterans are eligible; whether and how sentences may be diverted, deferred, or reduced; and in the structure and philosophy employed by the court. Visit justiceforvets.org to learn more about VTCs nationally.

VTCs offer opportunities to connect with healthcare, community, and resources for eligible veterans. The federal VHA's Veterans Justice Outreach (VJO) program is often tightly connected to VTCs and helps coordinate VA healthcare to complement veterans' participation in VTCs. VJOs can provide critical links between VA healthcare and the criminal justice system.

The decision as to whether a VTC is an appropriate resource for a particular veteran is an individualized decision that should be made in consultation with an attorney and with service providers. Often, a veteran's attorney or the jurisdiction's prosecutor must refer the veteran to a Veterans Treatment Court or other specialty court.

RCW 2.48.165 documents the Washington Constitutional basis and legislative encouragement for the formation of specialty courts, including VTCs, in Washington. Several Washington jurisdictions have VTCs (or official dockets for veterans within other specialized courts). The Washington Courts website publishes a list of VTCs. Veterans courts known to Northwest Justice Project as of March 2015 are listed below.

Veterans Court officials and administrators may contact RepWaVets.org to update or alter information listed for their court.

Clark County

Clark County District Court, Veterans Therapeutic CourtFor more information, refer to the Clark County Specialized Courts website or contact Court Coordinator Shane Wolf at (360) 397-2431or by email.

King County

King County District Court, Regional Veterans CourtFor more information, refer to the King County Regional Veterans Court website or pamphlet. Contact the Regional Veterans Court manager at (206) 477-1692 or by email. You can also email the King County Prosecuting Attorney's Office with questions.

King County Superior Court, Adult Drug Diversion Court (Veterans Docket)The King County Adult Drug Diversion Court has a veterans docket. You can find more information at the court's website, or you can call the court at (206) 477-0788.

Seattle Municipal Veterans Treatment CourtFor more information, refer to the Seattle Municipal Veterans Treatment Court website. You may also contact the Court by email or by calling (206) 684-5682.

Kitsap County

Kitsap CountyFor more information, refer to the Kitsap County Veterans Court website or contact the Court Coordinator, Samantha Lyons by email or at (360) 337-4508.

Pierce County

Pierce County Veterans Drug CourtFor more information, refer to the Pierce County Veterans Drug Court website or contact the Drug Court Coordinator at (253) 798-2352.

Lakewood Municipal CourtLakewood Municipal Court (which serves the communities of Lakewood, University Place, and Steilacoom) has a veterans docket within their Municipal Court. The Municipal Court can be reached by calling (253) 512-2258. Veterans must be referred to the veterans docket by their public defender or private attorney; the Public Defender's Office can be reached by calling (253) 859-8840.

Spokane County

Spokane County Veterans Enhanced Treatment CourtFor more information, refer to the Spokane County District Court Veterans Enhanced Treatment Court's website. You may also contact the Probation Officer for the Court, Kathy Haugland, by email or at (509) 477-2617.

Spokane Municipal Veterans Treatment CourtFor more information, contact the Probation Officer for the Court, Tim Sigler, by email or at (509) 622-5804.

Stevens County

Stevens County Veterans Treatment CourtFor more information, contact the Probation Officer for the Court, Tim Wolfe, by email or at (509) 684-7586.

Thurston County

Thurston County Veterans CourtFor more information, refer to the Thurston County Veterans Court website or contact the Veterans Court Program Manager, Staci Coleman by email or at (360) 867-2034.